“You are a disgrace to Tamale Technical University,” Judge tells two young murderers of a local pastor
“You are a disgrace to the Tamale Technical University,” a Tamale district magistrate court judge, Mr Anthony Assah told the alleged murderers of a 64-year-old Head Pastor of End Time Believers Followership.
The victim, Pastor Ebenezer Ocra, a resident at Kumbiliyili near Malishegu in the Sagnarigu district of the northern region was murdered in his residence by the two Intermediate students identified as Kwame Dogyi, 28, and Obio Akwasi 21, all 3rd year electrical engineering students at the Tamale Technical University.
At the first hearing of the case Tuesday, the judge reminded the two into police custody to reappear on 28th November 2017.
The clearly emotional judge expressed his disappointment at the two young suspects, age of their cruel action during the proceedings.
Mr Assah told the boys in an open court that they have disgraced TaTU where they were schooling.
He continued: “I am afraid of your being into this world because at this your tender age if you can commit such a crime, then is serious.”
When he asked the suspects if this is their first time of committing, they answer yes but the judge said: ” Your posturing indicates that you are not first time offenders.”
“Because of 150000 cedis, you kill someone in this manner,” the judge wondered. “To be honest with you, you have spoilt my whole day,” the disturbed judge added. When asked if they really did commit the murder the two nodded their heads to the astonishment of the room audience.
First hearing
Prosecuting officer, Inspector Patrick Acheampong told the court the two suspects killed the deceased and took away his Toyota Highlander vehicle.
He prayed the court to remand the two into prison custody which the judge admitted and adjourned to 28th November.
The vehicle, the prosecuting officer said, was sent to the Tamale Industrial Area for re-spraying and thereafter for sale at a cost of GH₵20,000.00 on the 10th November, 2017 at about 3pm.
On Monday, the northern regional police commander, DCOP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, told journalists that on November 13, 2017 detectives were dispatched to the industrial area and located the said vehicle having been left there with a mechanic.
He revealed the team feigned interest in buying the car and requested for a test drive. He said “the team drove the vehicle to the police station where it was kept whilst communication with the supposed owner began through telephone a number he left with the mechanic.”
At 10:00p.m. same day, the police said a Pastor with the End Time Believers Fellowship Ben Asamoah, reported to the police that when he visited the deceased pastor Ebenezer Ocran he found him lying in a pool of blood dead.
First time offenders
On whether the two were first time offenders, DCOP Sarpong explained that in most cases people involved in murder are not first time offenders.
Murder cases he added are tried on bail of indictment which can take up five years.
The police chief also discounted assertion that the trial will take much longer due to issues surrounding the suspects motive, their assailants and how long they planned the act.
The police gave the assurance that further investigation of the matter will continue.
